DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
Experiment- 4
Aim: Familiarization with Packet Tracer Simulation tool/any other related tool.
A simulator, as the name suggests, simulates network devices and its environment, so protocols in Packet
Tracer are coded to work and behave in the same way as they would on real hardware.
Packet Tracer is a cross-platform visual simulation tool designed by Cisco Systems that allows users to
create network topologies and imitate modern computer networks. The software allows users to simulate
the configuration of Cisco routers and switches using a simulated command line interface. Packet Tracer
makes use of a drag and drop user interface, allowing users to add and remove simulated network devices
as they see fit.
Installing Packet Tracer
Installation in Windows is pretty simple and straightforward; the setup comes in a single file named
Packettracer_Setup7.1.1 exe. Open this file to begin the setup wizard, accept the license agreement,
choose a location, and start the installation.
Interface Overview
The layout of Packet Tracer is divided into several components similar to a photo editor. Match the
numbering in the following screenshot with the explanations:
Fig. 4.1
Computer Networks BTCS 507-18 AIML 6th Semester
GULZAR GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS Page 18
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
The components of the Packet Tracer interface are as follows:
Area 1: Menu bar – This is a common menu found in all software applications; it is used to open,
save, print, change preferences, and so on.
Area 2: Main toolbar – This bar provides shortcut icons to menu options that are commonly
accessed, such as open, save, zoom, undo, and redo, and on the right-hand side is an icon for
entering network information for the current network.
Area 3: Logical/Physical workspace tabs – These tabs allow you to toggle between the Logical
and Physical work areas.
Area 4: Workspace – This is the area where topologies are created and simulations are displayed.
Area 5: Common tools bar – This toolbar provides controls for manipulating topologies, such as
select, move layout, place note, delete, inspect, resize shape, and add simple/complex PDU.
Area 6: Real time/Simulation tabs – These tabs are used to toggle between the real and simulation
modes. Buttons are also provided to control the time, and to capture the packets.
Area 7: Network component box – This component contains the entire network and end devices
available with Packet Tracer, and is further divided into two areas:
Area 7a: Device-type selection box – This area contains device categories
Area 7b: Device-specific selection box – When a device category is selected, this selection box
displays the different device models within that category
Area 8: User-created packet box – Users can create highly-customized packets to test their
topology from this area, and the results are displayed as a list.
Viva Questions:
Q1. Define simulator.
Q2. What is workspace?
Q3. List different type of packets.
Q4. List different menus in packet tracer.
Computer Networks BTCS 507-18 AIML 6th Semester
GULZAR GROUP OF INSTITUTIONS Page 19